Light Console

Festival Hall, London

 

Date1951
LocationFestival Hall, London
Number of Dimmers84
Configuration1-manual, straight stop-keys. Speed settings of snap, 3, 7, 15, 30 seconds. Positioned front-of-house.
Notes

Personal email from Jim Laws (09/4/07):

“FH Console had to fit into a minute control room, FOH, hence was only 18" deep, with the speed pedal splayed. There is a drawing of it in situ, (with operator, I think), probably in Tabs. Strand photos tended to be mock-ups in a studio (where you can lose the 4th wall & doctor the view through the window, & the perspective. You can also lose those unsightly air-con ducts that caused the problem and created the opportunity in the first place).”

Rescued by Jim laws c.1975 on the call of the Chief LX, about to throw it out.

Donated to DHA, c.1998, and on display in their offices at the time of writing (March 2007).

ReferencesNigel Morgan, Stage Lighting Design in Britain, p.81, footnote 164, and pp.247-8.
The Festival Hall Light Console
The Royal Festival Hall Light Console, preserved at DHA Lighting. From the collection of Adam Grater.
Pencil drawing of an operator sat at the Light Console, with view of the stage
The Royal Festival Hall Light Console, in the RFH control room. From the collection of Adam Grater.
Strand brochure showing the Festival Hall Light Console
Strand Electric leaflet showing the RFH Light Console. From the collection of Adam Grater.
Hand written cue sheet for the Light Console
A cue sheet from the RFH. From the collection of Adam Grater.